Moon Township man pleads guilty to false tax

A Moon Township man has pleaded guilty after filing a false tax return on Wednesday. According to the Department of Justice, 53-year-old Albert Boyd Jr. willingly filed the false tax. There was also a reported loss of $1.03 million in court. Boyd did not initially report the income of his business, Boyd Roll-Off Services, and most of that income came from the sale of scrap metal that was unreported. He also deposited checks into accounts separate from his business. Boyd will receive a sentence later this year, and he may face up to three years in prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000 or twice that amount obtained through his false tax return.

 

Free potassium iodide tablets to be distributed Thursday, Aug. 22 at Mall

MONACA, Aug. 14 – State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, is encouraging Beaver County residents to stop by the Beaver Valley Mall’s Center at the Mall in Monaca between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22 for the state’s annual distribution of free potassium iodide tablets.

“Nuclear power is one of safest energy sources available, with multiple systems designed into modern plants that make the risk of an injury-causing accident extremely rare,” Matzie said. “But it still makes sense to take every precaution, which is why the state distributes free potassium iodide tablets each year to residents living within 10 miles of the state’s four active power plants, including Beaver Valley Power Station.

“The Department of Health will be distributing tablets between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22 at Center at the Mall, inside Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca. I encourage everyone to stop by for that extra peace of mind that comes with knowing you and your family are fully prepared.”

Matzie said the distribution will take place at Unit #284 of the mall, which is located at 570 Beaver Valley Mall Blvd. in Monaca. Residents may request tablets for family members or others who are unable to get the tablets on their own.

Residents unable to attend the Aug. 22 event may also obtain tablets at the Beaver County State Health Center located at 3582 Brodhead Road in Monaca. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached at 724-774-1385.

City of Aliquippa hiring police officer and firefighter

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 14, 2024 1:22 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Applications for both positions can be picked up at the city building  located at 581 Franklin Avenue from 9am to 3pm Monday through Friday. Applications are due by Monday, August 26, 2024.

There is no fee for the police officer applications. Base pay is $45,468.80. Act 120 and the state exam are required. A $35 fee is required for the firefighter application, a valid driver’s license and firefighter 2 certification, as well as a current EMT certification is required. Applicants must pass a  written and oral interview, physical agility and drug test to qualify.

Hopewell Area School District hires staff and announces retirements

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published August 14, 2024 1:19 P.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) At Tuesday night’s work session Rosetta Dufalla’s retirement was announced.  She was an English teacher, Deborah Ross retired from Margaret Ross Elementary School, where she taught special education. One paraprofessional resigned  who worked at the junior high school.

Two senior high school science teachers were hired , and seven paraprofessionals were hired, 3 for Hopewell Elementary School, 2 for Independence elementary School, and 2 for the junior high school. Two bus drivers resigned and one was hired.
Morgan Metzger was hired as the school district psychologist. She will begin her duties once released from her current job and  her clearances are received by the district. Brabdt Dykstra was hired as an elementary art teacher effective on August 19, 2024.
The regular school board meeting will be held on Tuesday, august 26, 2024 at 7 p.m. in the board room.

Smishing scams from the Pennsylvania turnpike and how to avoid them

A scam is going around in the form of a text telling people they owe money for trips on the Pennsylvania turnpike or on the road in general. One text read “to prevent further fees totaling $106, please settle the due amount of $106.” It also gives a website to pay the funds, but a Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission spokesman confirmed that the website is fake and asks for credit card information for identity theft. This problem is called smishing, which is coined by the FBI for hackers to use phishing scams with secret message service. Smishing started in March when residents in Illinois began receiving the texts, supposedly from the Illinois Tollway and various phone numbers were given out to scammers claiming to act as the specific state toll for people that view the text. If you see these texts or see emails that ask for personal information, do not answer them and delete them.

PennDOT stakes its claim on keeping Pennsylvania state inspection requirements

PennDOT replied to recent social media posts that claimed that Pennsylvania is removing state inspection requirements. They confirmed that legislation has not eliminated annual state safety inspections and emissions testing. The state of Texas recently passed a law that forbids these requirements, but PennDOT has responded that this change will not affect Pennsylvania.

Beaver Falls Fire Department receives grant for safety equipment and resources

The Beaver Falls Fire Department has received a grant that will keep their first responders safe. According to local representatives, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) awarded $187,428.57 to the department for equipment, head-to-toe protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources. The department also released that they will also have to supply equal to or more than 5% of non-federal funds given to them by the grant.

New free program seeks to help Pennsylvania mental health crisis during back-to-school season

The crisis of mental health is still affecting both children and teens across the country, and a free option is available for mental help during back-to-school season. A new poll from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation shows 84% of Americans believe school staff can play a crucial role in identifying signs of mental health issues in students. However, the executive director of the APA Foundation, Rawle Andrews Jr., found that only less than half of school staff are getting training to fight mental health. The program that the APA Foundation is providing is called Notice. Talk. Act. At School. This goes in three phases, noticing peculiar signs and symptoms, talking through active listening, and acting by implementing resources to help. This program is not in Pennsylvania schools as of yet, but it is funded by a federal grant and available at no cost to schools, staff, and parents.

Medical non-profit organization hosts three blood drives in Beaver County

The medical nonprofit Vitalant are looking for blood donors as they will be holding three separate blood drives here in Beaver County this month. They are specifically needing type O blood, but all types are still urged to donate as well. Those who participate will receive a $10 gift card and will be entered into a raffle that will give two winners a stake of $10,000 as part of their Grocery Giveaway. The blood drives will be on Saturday, August 17 at 908 Market Street in Bridgewater from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday August 19, at 3590 Darlington Road, Darlington Township from 1-7 p.m., and Thursday, August 29 at the Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca from 12-6 p.m. Donors can also schedule appointments on the Vitalant website, through their group’s app, or by calling 877-258-4825.

Powerball® Jackpot Ticket Worth $213.8 Million Sold in Allegheny County

Middletown, PA – A Pennsylvania Lottery retailer in Allegheny County sold a jackpot-winning Powerball® ticket worth $213.8 million for the Monday, August 12 drawing.

 

The ticket matched all five white balls drawn, 9-22-57-67-68, and the red Powerball 14, to win a jackpot worth an estimated annuity value of $213.8 million, or $106.4 million cash, less applicable withholding.

 

Quick Pizza and Hoagies, 3565 Harts Run Road, Pittsburgh, will earn a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

 

“The Pennsylvania Lottery congratulates the lucky winner and our retailer, Quick Pizza and Hoagies, for selling this big Powerball jackpot-winning ticket,” said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “Thanks to our loyal players and our network of nearly 10,000 retailers across Pennsylvania, the PA Lottery is able to continue generating proceeds to pay for life-sustaining programs and services our senior population relies upon.”

 

Monday night’s drawing marked the sixth time the Powerball® jackpot has been won this year. The Powerball® jackpot had been rolling since July 3, 2024, when the last jackpot worth $139.3 million was won in Ohio. In Pennsylvania, this recent jackpot run generated more than $16.6 million in sales, creating a profit of $6.6 million to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

 

This is the 20th Powerball® jackpot won in Pennsylvania since the game debuted in 1992.

 

The last time the Powerball® jackpot was won in Pennsylvania was back in August of 2022 when a $206.9 million jackpot-winning ticket was sold in Westmoreland County.

 

Winners are not known until prizes are claimed and tickets are validated. Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball® winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes. Winning tickets purchased at a Lottery retailer should immediately be signed on the back. Online winnings automatically appear in a player’s account after the claim has been processed. Players may visit palottery.com for more information about how to file a claim.

 

More than 22,200 other PA Lottery Powerball® tickets won prizes of various amounts in the Monday drawing, including more than 4,400 purchased with Power Play® and more than 2,700 tickets purchased with Double Play®. Players should check every ticket, every time.

 

The Powerball® jackpot reset to an estimated annuity value of $20 million, or $10 million cash, for the next drawing on Wednesday, August 14.

 

Pennsylvania Lottery players have options to purchase their Powerball® tickets online or by visiting a retailer. Players can find lottery-selling locations closest to them by visiting the Find a Retailer section of the Lottery’s website.

 

About Us: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed more than $35.1 billion to fund property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance, and local services including senior centers and meals. The Pennsylvania Lottery operates as a bureau within the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

Visit the Winners and Benefits pages at palottery.com to review how much money each county receives in Lottery prizes and funding to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help with a compulsive gambling problem.

Visit palottery.com for winning numbers, rules, chances of winning, and to join the VIP Players Club to play online or enter for second chances to win. Install our Official App, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn. Use the hashtag #palottery to share your messages with us.